| As notebook computers have gained in popularity, | | | | enough power for your anticipated needs. |
| gamers have begun adapting them to their own | | | | It's also important that any laptop that's going to be |
| needs. Gaming notebook computers are a totally | | | | mainly used for gaming has a dedicated memory |
| separate entity from regular laptops and desktop | | | | card. Some of the top models to look for are the |
| computers. | | | | Nvidia GeForce Go 6800 and GeForce FX Go 5700, |
| Conventional notebook computers and those | | | | the ATI Mobility Radeon 9800, ATI Mobility Radeon |
| designed for gaming do have one big factor in | | | | 9700 and the ATI Mobility Radeon 9600. Also |
| common though. They're both designed with | | | | carefully consider the hard drive. It's important to |
| portability in mind. In the past, people who have | | | | have enough capacity on your hard drive to hold |
| wanted to attend a LAN (Local Area Network) party | | | | your games. Most experts suggest a minumum of |
| would have to unplug their desktop gaming computer | | | | 60GB, although more is better. |
| and lug it to where the event was taking place. Now, | | | | An external USB mouse can make the gaming |
| it's just a matter of putting your dedicated laptop in | | | | experience much more enjoyable. A laptops touch |
| a backpack and going. | | | | pad can be hard to work quickly enough in a high |
| Just as desktop gaming computers have their own | | | | speed game. You might also consider an additional |
| special requirements, so do gaming laptops. For | | | | external battery since gaming places such large |
| starters, consider a model that uses a desktop CPU | | | | demands on available power. Many of the newer |
| instead of a mobile CPU. The desktop processor uses | | | | gaming laptops have hot-swappable bays that allow |
| a faster FSB (Front Side Bus) than what's normally | | | | the player to switch out components like disk drives |
| found in a laptop. The speed of the FSB is what | | | | and batteries while the computer is running. |
| establishes how responsive the computer will be | | | | The manufacturer of gaming laptops used to be |
| because it's what communicates with the RAM and | | | | limited to just a few specialty builders. Now even |
| the motherboard. Another important consideration is | | | | major players like Dell, Sony and Hewlett-Packard |
| the video card. Older type laptops have video cards | | | | have entries in the marketplace. With the addition of |
| that use the main system RAM. This slows down the | | | | the big players, now's a great time for those looking |
| computer. Normally you can't swap out the video | | | | at gaming notebook computers. |
| card in a laptop. So it's important to get one that has | | | | |